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Berkeley park improvements among $2 million grant for Bay Area

The Associated Press
Saturday August 11, 2001

SAN FRANCISCO – The federal government has approved $4.25 million in grants to be used in the renovation of California parks and recreational facilities, including some in Berkeley. 

The National Parks Service will provide funding to 16 California cities, seven of them in the San Francisco Bay area. 

About $2 million in grants will go toward the beautification of city parks in Berkeley, San Francisco, Oakland, Daly City, Richmond, Seaside and Vallejo. 

Before receiving the grants, the cities must submit final applications to the National Parks Service within 120 days. 

The grants are part of the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Grants program established in 1978. The purpose of the program is to provide grants and technical assistance to economically distressed urban communities. 

To be eligible for a grant a community has to show a strong commitment to rehabilitating local parks and recreational facilities.